Comments on: Should you lose pay when snow keeps you from work?

By: Nestor Hayden

Nestor Hayden — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:50:00 +0000

IMO, work from home is gonna become more and more popular. But that is amazing how employers are docking pay. Can’t just control the weather. Can you? I’ll get to work!

Cheers,

Nestor
.-= Nestor Hayden on: Legitimate Work at Home Jobs – Are They Really Out There? =-.

By: Festival of Frugality #218- America Saves Week Edition

Festival of Frugality #218- America Saves Week Edition — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:54:56 +0000

[...] Investor presents Should you lose pay when snow keeps you from work? posted at Monevator.com. Not getting paid is certainly no way to save money-avoid it if you [...]

By: Black Coffee: My Favorite Blogs, Money News & Opinions #28

Black Coffee: My Favorite Blogs, Money News & Opinions #28 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:11:44 +0000

[...] – With heavy snow hitting the suburbs of London this week, The Investor asked his readers if businesses should be responsible for paying employee wages if they are unable to get to work due to the bad weather. I’ve [...]

By: Len Penzo

Len Penzo — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:06:39 +0000

Ha! That’s the first time I think I’ve convinced anybody of anything…

Thanks for a good start to my weekend, Investor! LOL

By: The Investor

The Investor — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:11:40 +0000

I think you’ve convinced me. A few days of freak weather and businesses should cover it / catch up and make good. Two weeks (say) and it’s a national issue for citizens / Governments.

By: Len Penzo

Len Penzo — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:58:36 +0000

As you well know, unlike the government, businesses don’t have the luxury of being able to print money. That, to me, acts as a forcing function for this argument.

If there are two weeks of terrible snow, I just do not see how a business can reasonably be expected to shoulder the burden of covering its payroll with nothing in return from its workforce (unless they have budgeted for that ahead of time).

By: The Investor

The Investor — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:51:36 +0000

@Len – But what if there’s say two weeks of terrible snow, and you’ve allocated say five days of snow days. Are you saying there’s no moral reason why the business should pay the price, as opposed to the employees? (A perfectly logical position I guess). Or should employees move closer to work? (I don’t mean that sarcastically, genuine question).

I’m usually all for self-reliance – one of many reasons I first went self-employed is I was tired of supporting office malingerers with their endless days off – but if someone physically cannot get to work, it clearly isn’t their fault. Then again, it’s not the business’ fault, either.

By: Len Penzo

Len Penzo — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:06:23 +0000

I guess my answer is simple, but not in the spirit of your post, Investor. It all depends on how the contract is written. If the contract doesn’t make an allowance for such a situation, then the employee really doesn’t have much of a leg to stand on. That’s not to say that’s what I would do, assuming my business was making a profit – I would eat the day’s pay, assuming it didn’t decimate my bottom line.

To explore this further though, if I was a business owner and I lived in an area frequented by snow, I would most likely permit a set number of “snow days” per year, and budget my resources accordingly.

I think that would be an equitable solution for all parties.

Best,

Len
Len Penzo dot Com

By: The Investor

The Investor — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:46:00 +0000

I agree. When I first went freelance in my industry a decade ago I initially got so much done I thought my income was going to double or triple out of sheer productivity…

It didn’t (through output alone) because you discover your own ways to take the edge of your performance, without the help of your boss, but at least it’s more fun to choose your own poison!

By: Matt S.

Matt S. — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:30:42 +0000

Most jobs can be done at home, or anywhere in the world.
Insisting an employee is at a job site is really about control, not about productivity. Appearance over performance.
These shackles of the 19th and 20th century company man attitudes are actually holding back productivity.

By: The Investor

The Investor — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:48:14 +0000

I know a company where staff work four days a week but are paid for five, by design. I’ll let you know if any vacancies come up!

By: Financial Samurai

Financial Samurai — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:38:34 +0000

I tell ya, if American companies would provide MORE furlough days off, I’m sure a huge number of people will volunteer.

I would definitely consider a 20% pay cut in 8 years, if I only had to work 4 days a week, AND had 20% less stuff to do.

3 day weekends every week for life would be SWEET!